Lighted push-button



Feb. 21, 1967 R. F. BOV

LIGHTED PUSHBUTTON Filed Jan. 15, 1965 INVENTOR. /FAPI/AEL 50V www0(6245116 UnitedStates Patent O 3,305,677 LIGHTED PUSH-BUTTON Raphael F.Bov, Haddonfield, NJ., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, acorporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 425,273 1 Claim.(Cl. 240-2) This invention relates to .push-button switches andparticularly to improved means for indicating the operative condition ofpush-button switches.

Illumination at :appropriate intervals by means of an electric lamp isone com-mon method of indicating the operative condition of apush-button switch. However, additional electronic circuitry is requiredto light a lamp. A lamp can lburn out and give a false indication of theoperating state of a switch. In addition, the replacement cost of a lampadds to the over-all cost of a switch. When such a switch and means ofillumination are used in great numbers as, for example, in computers,these dii'culties increase accordingly.

An object of this invention is to provi-de an improved low-cost meansfor illuminating a push-button switch.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a means forilluminating a push-button switch without the use of electric ciincuits.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved means thatwill consistently give -a true indication of the operating state of apush-button switch.

In accordance with the present invention the improved means forilluminating a push-button switch comp-rises in combination alluorescent or luminescent substance land the lens of the push-buttonswitch. The lens is a translucent `subst-ance. The fluorescent orluminescent substance is preferably in the form of a brightly coloredtape spaced beneath the lower surface of the lens. The tape is so spacedbeneath the lens as to be, i-n a first state, obscured when viewed fromthe upper surface of the lens. Upon placing the push-button switch in ase-cond state, the tape is brought into proximity of the lower surfaceof the lens, thereby illuminating the lens as viewed lfrom the uppersurface.

The novel features of the present invention both as to its method andorganization, as well ias additional objects .and advantages thereof,will be understood more fully from the following ldetailed descriptionwhen read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which similarreference characters designate similar parts throughout and in which:

FIG. l is a perspective, partially sectioned view of a push-'buttonswitch assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 2 is a perspective, partially sectioned view of a furtherembodiment of Ia push-button switch in accordance with the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1, a pushbutton switch assembly 4 is shown. The.push-button switch is preferably of the release-locking type wherein apush-button locks in a` depressed condition and can be released bydepress locking another push-button in the assembly. In a switch of thistype, depressing a push-button base 6 engages it with a lockingmechanism (not shown) of the switch. The base 6 is rectangular and ishel-d in position by a fixed rectangular Iguide 8 which extends throughand a given distance above the upper surface of the base 6. Tihe base 6has two ngers 10` (only one, in each of the two partially sectionedpush-buttons, is shown) placed on opposite sides of the guide 8.

Aixed to the guide 8 is a piece of resilient material 12, preferably ofsponge rubber or foam plastic. Attached to the resilient material 12 isa fluorescent or luminescent substance 14 preferably in tlhe form of a3,305,677 Patented Feb. 2l, 1967 ICC brightly colored tape. The tape 14,which is shown as being lined, is preferably bright red or of anotherreadily observable color.

Push-buttons 16 in the form of rectangular, hollow members having atranslucent lens 18 at one end are placed on the push-button base 6 overthe guides 8 and frictionally held i-n place by the fingers 10' on thebase 6. The push-button lens 18 is preferably of a milky Teflon,translucent acrylic or other plastic. Resid-ing within .the hollow ofthe push-buttons 16 are in combination: the .guide 8, the resilientmaterial 12 and the luminescent substance 14. With the puslhbuttons 16in an elevated condition, tlhe luminescent substance 14 is spacedsufficiently below the interior surface of tihe lens 18 as to beobscured from sight when viewed from the lens exterior surface. In fadepressed push-button 16, the lens 18 of the button 16 comes intocontact with the luminescent substance 14, thereby illuminating the lens18. The piece of resilient material 512 insures that there will be ia rmcontact between the luminescent substance 14 and the lens 18. If thesubstance 14 is in the form of a fluorescent tape, there will not be aneed for firm contact with the lens 18.

Numbers 20, in a contrasting color, for example black, may be imprintedon one of tihe surfaces of the lens 18 (shown in FIG. 1 as thenumber(l). Bringing the luminescent substance 14 into contact with thelens 18 will illuminate the lens 18 and highlight the numbers 20.

In FIG. 2, another embodiment of a push-button assem'bly constructed inaccordance with the invention is illustrated. Elements similar to thosein FIG. 1 have been given the same reference numerals. A push-buttonassembly 4 is shown in which release-locking push-button switches areemployed. The switch-locking mechanism (not shown) resides beneath asupport plate 22. A piece of 'resilient material 12, such as spongerubber or foam plastic, is afiixed to the plate 22. Adhere-d to lchepiece of material 12 is a luminescent or fluorescent, continuous tape14. Push-buttons 16 comprising a translucent push-button head 18 and acentrally iaixed stem 24 are registered with apertures 26, 28 and 30 inthe luminescent substance 14, the resilient material 12 and the supportplate 22, respectively, so as to engage tfhe locking mechanism (notshown). Each element has been partially sectioned to show construction.With pushbuttons 16 in an elevated condition, the lower surface of thelens 18 is so spaced above the luminescent substance 14 as to beobscured when viewed fromy the upper surface of the lens. Upondepressing the pushbutton 16, the lens 18 is illuminated by theluminescent substance 14. The resilient material 12 insures that therewill be rm'contact 'between the lens 18 and the substance 14. A metallichousing 32 of aluminum or similar metal acts to hol-d the switchassembly together and can include cross pieces 33 which serve asdividers between the push-buttons. This arrangement holds thepush-buttons in place and prevents undesirable reflections from adjacentpush-buttons.

What is claimed is:

A push-button assembly of the type wfherein the individual push buttonsare releasably lockable in either la depressed or elevated conditioncomprising:

(a) a plurality of push buttons each having a translucent top and a stemaflixed thereto, said top having 'an upper and lower surface;

(b) a duct-like housing formed with a plurality of apertures designed toreceive said push buttons;

(c) a fixed support located within the housing, said support having alike plurality of apertures for ireceiving the stems of the pushbuttons;

(d) a rst strip of resilient material mounted upon the support, s-aidstrip having a like plurality of 3 4 apertures `for receiving saidstems, the apertures of viewed from the upper surface of said top when asaid first strip registering wit-l1 the apertures of said push button isin an elevated condition, and besupport; and comes visible upon saidpush button being in a (e) -a second strip formed of a` luminousmaterial depressed condition.

mounted upon the first strip of resilient material, 5

said second strip having a like plurality of apertures References Citedby the Examiner for receiving the stems, t'he apertures of said secondUNITED STATES PATENTS strip registering with the apertures of said firststrip, 1 256 0,07 2/1918 Izq-ank the apertures of the support, and thelapertures of 9 1765373y 1011955 Gebel- 240-2 the housing, said secondstrip being disposed be- 10 3,237591 3/1966 Piohel 116-124 neath thelower surface of the translucent topof eaoh of said buttons so that itis obscured when NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

